Stamp-cabinet.



P. H. CHASE.

STAMP CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14,1909.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. H. CHASE.

STAMP CABINET.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAY 14,1909.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

- n, c. TN: Nnnms PETERS Ca, wAsHrNcToN UNVITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

FRANK H. CHASE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STAMP-CABINET.

T o all whom'fit may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. CHASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in stamp cabinets and its object is primarily to provide a convenient means for separating andl dispensing stamps from a sheet.

The cabinet isdesigned more especially for use by druggists and others who retail stamps for the convenience of their general customers, and it provides a device of simple character for holding a sheet of stamps and with means whereby any number of stamps from one to ten may be separated from the sheet to supply the demands of the trade and without handling the stamps except to deliver them to the customer.

The invention has other objects in view which will appear hereafter in the detail description of the drawings in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the-cabinet, parts being broken away to show the interior mechanism and keys O to 4:, inclusive, appearing in depressed or operated position. Fig. 2 is a detail View of the stamp sheetsupport showing the sheet adjusting device. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. l showing the parts as they appear after the sheet has been fed bodily downward to the delivery mechanism and before the operating lever is released.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates the frame which may be of any suitable shape and size and preferably incloses as well as supports practically all of the operating parts.

Stamps are sold by the Government in sheets containing one hundred stamps separated by lines of perforations. A single sheet of stamps (not shown) is arranged on the inclined support 6 and is adjusted bodily sidewise into proper registration with the delivery mechanism by movable guides 7 (Fig. 2) which are connected through slots 8 in the support with a plate 9 or other device beneath the support and by means of which the guides may be moved simultaneouslylin either direction.

The delivery mechanism is located at the lower end of the stamp support and it com- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 14, 1909.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Serial No. 496,014.

prises a plurality of key bars 10 which are pivotally mounted on a rod 11 supported in the frame. A segment 12 made of wood, or other suitable material, is made fast to cach key bar above the rod 11 and the sheet of stamps is fed to these segments by means hereafter described. Each key bar is provided at the front of the segment with a stop 13 which operates in a slot 11 in the dellvery plate 14. A spring 15 is attached at 15 to the frame and at 15 to the inner vend of the key bar to hold the outer end of the key bar normally elevated and to return the key bar to normal position after each operatlon. Each key bar has a lug 16 on its right hand side (F ig. 1) which projects beneath the adjacent key bar to the right, so that all the key bars in elevated position to the left of any one operated will be operated also at the same time.

A knurled presser roller 17 is supported above each segment to press the stamps against the segments and the segments and presser rollers are arranged in pairs, each pair being adapted to engage a stamp. Each presser roller is carried by a support 18 and links 19 are pivotally connected at 19 to said support and at 20 to a presser lever 21 which is pivotally mounted on a rod 22 supported in the frame. A post 23 extends through an opening 24 in a bracket 25 on the frame and is pivotally connected at 2G to the lever 21. A spring 27 is held on the post between the bracket and a nut 28 at the end of the post, and this spring operates on the lever 21 to hold the presser roller against the stamp on the segment with suflicient pressure to enable the segment, when operated, to separate the stamp from the sheet.

Each support 18 carries a restraining shoe 29 which is pivoted thereto at 30, and each shoe is hung at its upper end on a hook 31 formed on a cross bar 32 supported in the frame. restraining shoes engage and hold the sheet of stamps while one or a plurality of stamps is being separated from the sheet by the delivery mechanism. The heel 18 of the support 18 projects beyond the pivot 3() and bears on the restraining shoe to hold its end 29 tightly against the sheet.

A handle lever 33 is rigidly mounted on a rock shaft 3-1 which is supported in bearings in the frame and carries a plurality of arms 35 in which the cross rod 36 is supported.

The lower ends or toesl 29 of the This rod is arranged to engage the rear end 21 of each of the presser levers 21 and when the handle lever is swung forward from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, the presser levers will be swung on their pivot against the tension of springs 27 to withdraw the presser rollers and the restraining shoes from operative position, as shown in Fig. 4. One or both of the arms 35 on t-he shaft 34 carries a slotted guide 37 which travels on a guide roller 38 fastened to the side of the frame.

A plurality of sheet feeders 39 are fastened to transverse rods 40 and 41 which are guided in the slotted guides 42 and 48 fastened to the sides of the frame. Two of the sheet feeders are pivotally connected at 44 to two links 44 which are loosely connected to arms 45 rigid on the shaft 34. The loose connection between the arms and the links is eected by a pin 46 on each arm arranged to travel in a slot- 47 in the link. The two links are connected at their forward ends by a rod 48. The lower end 39 of each sheet feeder is serrated or toothed and is arranged to operate between a pair of shoes 29 to engage the sheet of stamps.

I provide a storage receptacle 49 in which a quantity of sheets may be stored if desired.

In practice the parts are arranged normally in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and to fill the cabinet a sheet of stamps is slipped into place on the support against the restraining shoes and between the guides 7. Then the handle lever 33 is swung forward from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 4 which operates to raise the presser rollers and the restraining shoes out of operative position and at the same time thrust the serrated ends of the sheet feeders into engagement with the sheet and downward a sufficient distance to feed the lower edge of the sheet into operative position between the presser rollers and the segments and against the stops. Then the handle lever is returned to the position shown in Fig. 3 and this movement operates to return the sheet feeders to inoperative position and to lower the presser' rollers and the restraining shoes into operative engagement with the sheet of stamps.

The sheet of stamps has a blank strip or selvage at one side edge and at its top or bottom and ten rows with ten stamps in each row7 the stamps being separated from each other and from the strips by lines of perforations which extend through the strips. The selvage strip is sometimes on one side and sometimes on the other side. As it is desirable to separate the strips from the stamps I preferably provide twelve key bars7 the two end key bars being designated by 0 and the intermediate key bars being designated by numerals from 1 to 10 reading from left to right. Upon the depression of the 0 key bar at the left of the machine the part of the blank strip in the first row opposite the first stamp will be separated from the sheet; when the 1 key bar is depressed the 0 key bar at its left will also be depressed and the first stamp will be separated from the sheet and delivered on the delivery plate 15'; when the 4 key bar is depressed all the key bars to the left thereof will be depressed at the same time and all the stamps in the first row on the sheet to the left of and including the stamp opposite the 4 key bar will be separated from the sheet. The tension of the springs 15 may be such and the springs may be connected to the key bars so that when any key bar is depressed to the limit of its downward movement it will stay in this position until it is returned by hand. This may be regulated by the pressure of the presser rollers 17 under the tension of the springs 27. It will also be noted that all the key bars to the left of any key bar which is operated will be depressed along with the key bar which is operated. Therefore the, say, 4 key bar may be depressed to separate and deliver the first four stamps in the first row of a sheet and left in their depressed position, as shown in Fig. 1 to indicate to the operator that these four stamps have been delivered. To separate and deliver all the ten stamps in the first row of the sheet the 10 key bar or the 0 key bar at the right of the machine will be operated and the stamps would be separated from the sheet and delivered in a strip and not separated from each other. The stamps are separated from the sheet by the segments operating in conjunction with the presser rollers 17 while the restraining shoes hold the sheet. The segments and the presser rollers pull the stamps which they engage away from the sheet which is held in place by the shoes.

WV hen all the stamps in the first row of the sheet have been delivered the handle lever is operated, as before described, to raise the presser rollers and the restraining shoes and to cause the sheet feeders to feed the sheet down with the next row of stamps in position to be engaged by the presser rollers and the segments. When the presser rollers are thus raised the springs 15 may then return all depressed key t'bars to elevated position and to enable this return of the key bars to take place before the sheet is fed I provide the lost motion in the connection between the arms 45 and the links 44. This will enable the segments to be returned to their normal position (Fig. 3) before the feeder devices feed the sheet intol operative relation thereto.

My improved cabinet provides a convenient means for holding stamps and for separating and delivering them from a sheet in quantities as required, and it avoids the handling` which isy necessary When stamps are separated by hand Jfrom a sheet to supply the demands of' a customer. In addition to thisu the stamps are kept in a convenient place Where they will not get dirty or stuck together.

zIii/*hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1` In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means for holding the sheet on the support With the first row of' stamps in position for delivery, and means adapted to be operated individually or simultaneously for separating from the sheet by a single operation one or more stamps from the first row.

2. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means for holding the sheet on the support with the first row of' stamps in position for delivery, and a plurality of devices constructed to be operated individually or one by another for separating by a single manipulation one or more stamps from the sheet.

3. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means for holding the sheet on the support with the first row of' stamps in position for delivery, a separate means engaging each of the stamps in the rst row for pulling them from the sheet, and means for operating said pulling means separately or in multiple to deliver one or more stamps.

4. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means for holding the sheet on the support with the first row of' stamps in position for delivery,

means engaging the stamps in the first row for separating and delivering them from the sheet, and a plurality of key bars for operating said separating and delivering means to deliver one or more stamps from the sheet.

5. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means for holding the sheet on the support with the first row of stamps in position for delivery, and means for separating and deliveringl one or more stamps in the first row from the sheet, said means comprising a segment, a roller to press the stamp against the segment, and a key bar for operating the segment.

6. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, and means for separating and delivering one or more stamps in the first row from the sheet, said means comprising a segment for each stamp in the first roW, a roller pressing the stamp against each segment, a key bar for operating each segment, and means for restraining the sheet While a stamp is being separated and delivered from the first row.

7. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means for separating and delivering one or more stamps in the first row from the sheet, said means comprising a segment and a presser roller to engage each stamp in the first row, a key bar for operating each segment, means forI operating a plurality of key bars when one is actuated, and means for holding the sheet on the support while one or more stamps is being separated and delivered therefrom.

8. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means for holding the sheet on the support with the first row of stamps in position for delivery, means for separating and delivering one or more stamps in the first row from the sheet, a key bar for operating the separating and delivering means for each stamp in the first row, and a lug on each key bar arranged to be engaged by the next adJacent key bar.

`9. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means f'or holding the 'sheet on the support with the first row of' stamps in position for delivery, and means for separating and delivering one or more stamps in the first row from the sheet, said means comprising a key bar for the separating and delivering means for each stamp in the first row, and each of said key bars being operable independently of the key bars on one side but operable conjoilntly with all the key bars on the other sic e.

10.. In a stamp cabinet, a flat support forY sustalnlng an integral sheet of connected the support to hold it in fixed position during the pulling operation, and means formoving said holding means out of operative position.

11. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means for separating and delivering one or more stamps in the first row from the sheet, said means comprising presser rollers, means for holding the sheet on the support with the first row of stamps in position for delivery, and means for moving the presser rollers and the holding means out of operative position.

12. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of' connected stamps, means for separating and delivering one or more stamps in the first row from the sheet, means for holding the sheet on the support with the first row of stamps in position for delivery, a stop in front ofl the separating and delivering means, and means for rendering said separating and delivering and holding means inoperative to permit the adjustment of a sheet against said stop.

13. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of' connected stamps, means for holding the sheet on the support with the first row of stamps in position for delivery, means for separating and delivering one or more stamps in the first roW from the sheet, a plurality of sheet feeders normally out of engagement with the sheet, and means for operating said sheet feeders to feed the sheet to separating and delivering position.

14. In a stamp cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means for holding the sheet on 'the support with the irst row of stamps in position for delivery, means for separating and delivering one or more stamps in the first row from the sheet, said means comprising presser rollers, means for moving the holding means and presser rollers out of operative position, and means for feeding the sheet into sepa-- rating and delivering position beneath the presser rollers.

l5. In a stamp Cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, means -for holding the sheet on the support With the first row of stamps in position for delivery, means or separating and delivering one or more stamps in the first roW from the sheet, means for feeding the sheet into separating and delivering position, and means for simultaneously rendering the holding and separating and delivering means inoperative and operating said feeding means.

16. In a stamp Cabinet, a support for an integral sheet of connected stamps, laterally movable guides on said support, and means disposed at the rear of said support and Connecting said guides whereby the guides may be moved simultaneously to adjust the sheet transversely of the support.

FRANK I-I. CHASE.

lVitnesses IVM. O. BELT, M. A. KIDDIE. 

